Means for transferring loops in knitting machines



July 21, 1959 c. F. MILLER ETAL MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LOOPS IN KNITTINGMACHINES 4 .Sheets-Sheet l.

INVENTOR. CHARLES F. Mm.

EQ THOMQS C. LYSTELE Filed. March 24, 1955 y 1, 1959 c. F. MILLER ET AL2,895,317

ERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES MEANS FOR TRANSF Filed March 24, 19554 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVNTOR. CHA2LE5 F MILLER THOMA$ C. LYTEF;

.4 TTURNE Y uly 1 1959 c. F. WLLER Em 2,895,317

MEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 24, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 3 I ZONE 1 zomzs ZONE 5 zowaz:

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A G 60% g f 63 57 INVENTOR. Cumalhas FT MILLER THOMQS C. LYSTER ham ATTORNE V July 21, 1959 SEAL 2,895,317

MEANS we rmmsmamm LOOP-S w KNITTING MACHINES Filed March 24, 1955 4Sheets-Sheet 4 VENTO CHQRLE MILL THOMAS C. LXSTER.

A TTORNE Y IVLEANS FOR TRANSFERRING LOOPS IN KNITTING MACHINES CharlesF. Miller and Thomas C. Lyster, Philadelphia, Pa., assignors to WildmanJacquard Co., Norristown, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania ApplicationMarch 24, 1955, Serial No. 496,557

8 Claims. (Cl. 6624) This invention relates to a novel means fortransferring loops from one group of needles to another in knittingmachines of the type having angularly disposed beds.

It is a general object of the invention to devise an apparatus by whichtransfer of loops from either group of needles to the other in machinesof the type described shall be facilitated and rendered more certain.

A further object is that of devising a transfer instrument which shallfunction in the slot with its needle, being generally of the samethickness as the needle and having adjacent its loop engaging end meansby which it acts as a support and guide for the needle.

Another object is that of providing in a transfer instrument a point forentering a loop which is not split along the length of the instrumentand which therefore, may be designed to guide and be guided by theneedle at the point end.

It is a further object to devise a transfer instrument which shallposition the loop to be transferred very accurately for engagement bythe needle to which transfer is to be made.

' A further object is that of providing a transfer instrument ofbifurcated type through the opening in which the opposed needle ispassed and the forked part of which shall be separable laterally at aposition behind the point of the instrument, and yet one which is easilymanufactured, durable and inexpensive.

Other objects will become obvious from the following disclosure.

It is common practice in knitting machines having angularly opposedbeds, e.g., dial and cylinder machines or opposed flat bed machines, toknit on needles in one or both beds and then to transfer stitches fromneedles of one bed to those of the other bed. There are, however,practical limitations upon doing this in that these machines almostalways depend upon needles with loop spreading and holding clips,separate transfer instruments and the like, the successful functioningof which depends to a considerable degree upon the disposal of thefabric to the needles from which transfer is to be made. For example, ina dial and cylinder machine the fabric is taken up by being drawn downwithin the cylinder so that transfer from the cylinder to the dial iseasily effected by use of clipped needles or with successfully employedtransfer instruments. The needles or instruments may be projectedupwardly through the loops to be transferred, their movement beingopposed by the pull on the fabric. The same procedure attempted at thedial is not as successful since these needle clips or the transferinstruments to penetrate a loop and to spread or enlarge it as required,must have resistance or else they merely push the loop away. At the dialor in a direction perpendicular to the fabric plane, this undesirablecondition prevails so that there is a definite and prohibitive lack ofresistance needed for a successful transfer in that direction.

For this reason the practice in the industry is to produce such fabricsas may be knit with a rib cuif (1 X 1 rib, for example) and then totransfer stitches from the atent O l Patented July 21, 1959 cylinderneedles to intermediate dial needles and to continue on the dial makingreverse jersey fabric until another article and a second rib cuff is tohe formed.

It is desirable to do the opposite, especially since patterning is moreeasily accomplished while .knitting on the cylinder group of needles.Also it is desired to knit a 1 X 1 rib cuff or other section of ribfabric between two jersey sections, this meaning a transfer in eachdirection so that it becomes essential that the machine be provided fortransfer from cylinder to dial and vice versa. Such practice and alsothe possibility of transferring from dial to cylinder are usefullyemployed in many ways, for example, in fashioning on circular knittingmachines, or making a standard two draw thread separation in conjunctionwith a 1 x 1 rib cuflf.

Again, especially for finer gages of material, it becomes necessary todevise a transfer instrument and needle combination which may functionin narrow slots in the needle beds and which may not be open to thecommon fault that the point fails to enter its loop properly or fails toregister with the needle to which transfer is made.

According to the invention a transfer instrument is associated with eachneedle from which a loop is to be transferred, the needle and instrumentsliding in the same slot and being so operated by a cam set, laterdescribed in detail, which, when a loop is to be transferred willcontrol the needle to hold its loop while the instrument is extendedoutwardly. The movement of the instrument is one such that the loop isentered to the fullest extent necessary while the loop is stillpositively held. Thus it is no longer essential that the pull of thefabric contribute to successful transfer. The operation is universal- 1yeffective to or from either group of needles.

The instrument itself will be described in detail along with adisclosure of the particular part it plays in the fabric formingprocess.

The invention will be described by reference to a preferred embodimentand modification thereof as illustrated in the accompanying figures ofdrawing, wherein:

Fig. l is the first of a series of progressive views showing the stepsin transferring a loop from a dial to a cylinder needle in a dial andcylinder type knitting machine.

Figs. 2 through 9 are similar figures showing progressively moreadvanced steps in the method.

Fig. 10 is a plan view of a preferred transfer instrument.

Fig. 11 is an elevation of the instrument of Fig. 10 with a cooperatingneedle in its related position.

Fig. 12 is a diagrammatic view of cams used in effecting a transfer fromdial to cylinder.

Fig. 13 is a plan view of a modified form of transfer instrument andneedle.

Fig. 14 is an elevation of the instrument and needle of Fig. 13.

Figs. 15-19 are views showing the method as applied in a flat, V-bedknitting machine.

Now referring to Figs. 1-9, a preferred form of the invention may beapplied in a body machine having a cylinder 20 and a dial 21, each ofwhich is slotted to form a bed for cylinder needles 22 and dial needles23. These needles have the usual operating butts which are affected bycams to be described, and are preferably latch needles although withcertain modifications which will be obvious to those skilled in thisart, other types such as spring beard needles may be utilized.

While the novel transfer instruments described and claimed herein areuniversally applicable to either bed, it is contemplated that eachneedle group shall be provided with transfer instruments. The cams andthe illustrative example of these Figs. 1-9 are particularly concernedwith a transfer from dial to cylinder.

A transfer instrument 24 accompanies needle 22 in its.

slot and a similar instrument is associated with needle 23. While theneedles are rather standard in design the instruments are quite unusualand will now be described referring to Figs. 10 and 11.

Each instrument is formed with a shank 26 which is, in fact of stripmaterial folded at the end of the instrument at which the material iswide enough to form butt 27. The latter is'inturned at one side as at 28to leave smooth, substantial surfaces against which the cams mayfunction. The folded material is spot welded as at 29 and 30 and theremaining part is then forked or bifurcated to extend forwardly in longand short sides 31 and 32, respectively. While the two halves of theshank are herein shown spaced slightly, they are in a practical instancepressed rather tightly in contact, or may be riveted with a spacer orspacers between the two parts.

"The shank up to the point of divergence of the side members is, adaptedto rest above or outside the needle 23 sliding on it and actually, thethickness of each should be the same. "The slots in beds are ofappropriate width to accommodate the needle and instrument shanks out toor up to a point within which the wider or bifurcated part of theinstrument never enters. They are discontinued then leaving adjacent theouter dial and upper end of the cylinder, forecuts 33 and 34 over whichloops are measured and drawn during knitting. The sides 31 and 32 aremuch wider than the shank, being extended down to the level of the underside of the needle and turned under to support it at a number of places.The outer dial is stepped down at the terminal point of the slots sothat these supporting pads may bear effectively thereon. One suchsupport is evident beneath weld 3d as a part of the side 32 is bentunder at 35. This constitutes a support for the needle and also a pad onwhich the instrument itself rides. It also constitutes a stop preventingpossible overtravel of the instrument inwardly of the dial or downwardlyin the cylinder.

As can be seen in Fig. 10, the sides 31 and 32 are caused to convergeslightly so that when closed (full lines) the inner width is about thesame asthat of a slot for the needle. At the end of the instrument, side31 comes to a V-shaped tip 36. At about the starting point of theconvergence of the sides they are also cut down to present shoulders 37,the sides being of only about the same height as the width of the needlefrom these shoulders to the tip 36.

Just in front of these shoulders the side members are built up topresent lugs 38, one at each side, which prevent the loop from beingdisplaced as the needle is moved out to clearing position. The tipsection or long side of the bifurcated part of the instrument is channelshaped so it guides the needle and vice versa, especially when theinstrument is moved out to enter the loop in a needle hook. Thus thesolid or non-split tip 36 being centered with its needle must enter itsloop.

The short side 32 is tapered downwardly as at 39 and bent under to forma part 40 which engages a rearwardly inclined surface 41 at the lowerpart of the channel section adjacent the tip 36. An upwardly directedpart 42 of this channelled end of the instrument is tapered in eitherdirection as are all other surfaces over which a loop may slip so thatthere shall be no tendency to hang or snag. Normally, the sides areresiliently maintained closed, but may be spread as in the dot-and-dashline position when the instrument is withdrawn to leave its loop on theneedle to which transfer is made; the parts spring outwardly and theneedle may be deflected slightly to one side.

The sides 31 and 32 behind the shoulders 37 are'formed with as wide anopening as possible for sure entry of the needle from the other bed andyet may not be wider than practical for clearance between the forecuts33 or 34 as. the case may be.

The shank and part of the side members are cut away atl43 .and-44 toprovide space for the needle latch when the needle is withdrawn and theinstrument extended, and so that the upper part of the shank can beriveted nearer the tip than otherwise would be the case if support 35remains where it is.

Now referring to Figs. l9, a description of the steps involved will begiven. While, for simplicity, a single dial and a single cylinder needleare mentioned, it is to be understood that when going from rib tojersey, all dial needles which have loops thereon normally have theirloops transferred to cylinder needles. That is done progressively as thecams affect their needles and instruments during relative rotation ofthe parts.

In Fig. 1, assuming all needles to be retracted, a loop is shown in thehook of the dial needle 23 and it. is to be understood that the fabricdepends within the cylinder 2%) as shown. This may be a situation inwhich all loops are on dial needles or if the change is from rib tojersey, then alternate stitches are on rib and on cylinder needles. Thenthe transfer is of loops on dial needles tointermediate cylinderneedles. In some instances it may be-n'ec-' essary to rack the dial tobring the proper needles into register, but in any event the process isfundamentally as herein described once the situationfor transfer is setup.

The dial needle must hold its loop until the instrument has fullypenetrated it. In Fig. 2 that point has been reached and the loop isheld against shoulders 37 and restrained by lugs 38 from movingforwardly on the instrument as the needle is then extended to clear thelatch, Fig. 3. The needle is then retracted, Fig. 4, and the instrumentmust be moved outwardly to its fullest extent, Figs. 5 and 6, thereby toextend the loop and to bring the widest, open part of the instrumentinto register with cylinder needle 22. The latter having had its latchopened, is then raised to enter between sides 31 and 32 of the instrument and to penetrate the loop, Fig. 7.

Finally, the loop being safely on the cylinder needle,'the instrument isretracted, Figs. 8 and 9, leaving the loop on needle 22 which may thenbe controlled in such manner as desired according to the knittingsequences to be followed. As the instrument is withdrawn the sides 31and 32 spring apart slightly and yet enough to permit needle 22 to slipout the lateral opening. The needle may be slightly deflected, but theamount of flexing to which any of the parts is subjected is not enoughto cause misalignment even over extended periods of use.

If the transfer is from a cylinder to a dial needle, the process ismerely reversed and, in fact, one may transfer to and fro more or lessat will. For interspersingrib cuffs and jersey material, all needlesknitting in one bed,

or alternate ones of those needles, give up their loop to needles in theopposite bed, but in instances, e.g., for fashioning or other work atspaced zones about the fabric, loops may be selectively transferred fromrelatively few needles which may vary from course to course or otherwise.

Referring to Fig. 12 cams for eifecting the necessary movements of theneedles are shown. Dial cams at the top of the figure are related tocooperating'cylinder cams at the bottom of the figure which is dividedinto zones each of which corresponds to one or more of. Figs. 1 through9.

Beginning at the right side of the figure, the cams moving as shown bythe arrow, the cylinder needles are all raised by cam 45 to open theirlatches. At the dialthe spaced radially from the dial center, but when atransfer is indicated, those cams are pattern controlled to moveHowever, in this zone cor responding to Fig. 1 the butts of instrumentsare notto the position shown here.

affected.

In the next zone corresponding to Fig. '2, thecylinder needles areunafiected and cam 49 moves the instrument g butts to pathway 52 wherethe shoulders 37 bear against their loop. The dial needles remain asthey were holding their loops in their hooks.

In zone 3, corresponding to Fig. 3, the instrument and cylinder needlesare not moved, but the dial needle is fully projected to clear its latchby cam 53 and a movable cam 54. For these purposes the latch clearingmovement is. carried to greater extent than might otherwise be needed.Cam 54 is pattern controlled in any convenient way.

Zone 4 includes one function, the retracting of the dial needle by theguard portion 55 of movable cam. '4 and fixed cam 56. The loop is thenoff the dial needle and held on the instrument.

At zone 5, cam 57 starts the cyli-nde needle upwardly while cam 58in thedial moves the instrument outwardly to the point of Fig.5.

Zones 6 and 7 are combined, the transfer instrument first being movedall the way out, Fig. 7, by cam 59, and the cylinder needle, affected bycam 60 is passed up through the instrument and loop. The showing of Fig.6 relates to an intermediate position of these parts. These earns 59 and60 are adjustable and may be pattern controlled.

.At zone 8, the instrument is being retracted by cam 61 and the cylinderneedle is drawn down to the extent provided by cam 62; it remains inthat position momentarily as the instrument is being withdrawn into thedial, Fig. 8.

After that, the instrument when it has been affected further by the cam61, will have its butt guided in circular pathway 47 until the nexttransfer. The cylinder needle moves to the position of Fig. 9 by cam 63whereupon the operation is completed and knitting may then continue onthe cylinder needles or on dial needles and such cylinder needles as hadloops transferred to them.

The invention is equally applicable to other than dial and cylindermachines, for example, flat, V-bed machines in which transfer of loopsis frequently made from needles in one bed to those in the other forvarious reasons, just as in the case of the circular machine abovedisclosed.

Referring to Figs. 15, such a flat, V-bed knitter is very brieflyindicated having beds 64 and 65 which are slotted in the usual mannerfor needles 66 and 67, herein shown as of latch type. Transferinstruments 68 and 69 to be described in detail are guided in the slotswith their needles and bear upon the needles. An instrument of this sortis shown in Figs. 13 and 14 and is perhaps simpler than that previouslydescribed. These V-bed machines present slightly less of a problem inthat the fabric depends between the beds and its resistance is ofadvantage when transferring, although the use of the method hereinclaimed renders certain the transfer of loops in some fabrics and forsome materials where a great deal of trouble has been experiencedheretofore.

The instrument is formed by bending a properly shaped piece of sheetmaterial at the end of butt 70 as with the form first mentioned, and theshank 71 of double thickness equal to that of the cooperating needle isspot welded at 72 and 73. The material is formed wider at the front orloop engaging end to extend down slightly below the lower needle shankor back of the needle. Actually, the slots are terminated at the pointWhere in the most retracted position, the wider, deeper part 74 of theinstrument begins. The beds are not slotted from there out but haveforecuts 75 and 76, Fig. 15, at their outer ends.

The instrument sides 77 and 78 diverge and continue parallel for a shortextent whereupon they converge slightly to a width at the tip whichpermits side flanges 79 and 80 to form a channel in conjunction with thesplit under part of the tip within which the needle may slide freely.The tip 81 is rather pointed, split at the center, and permits a needlefrom the opposite bed which f; has been moved into the eye formed bysides 77 and 78 to spring the two parts slightly as required when theinstrument is retracted.

Shoulders 82 serve to hold the loop in opened position for receiving theneedle to which it is to be transferred.

Now having described the instrument, the steps which go to make up thecomplete method are to be discussed. In Fig. 15, knitting has progressedto a point where all or some needles in bed 64 are to give up theirstitches to certain needles in bed 65.

Discussing the process as related to two needles only, in Fig. 16,instrument 68 is projected outwardly while retaining the loop in thehook of needle 66; thus the point must enter the loop until the latteris contacted by shoulders 82.

The latch of the needle is next cleared, Fig. 17, and then the needleretracted as the point moves out to align the eye of the instrument withneedle 67 in the opposite bed. That needle is moved up through the loopand the retraction of the instrument leaves the loop on needle 67. Thisfinal position, Fig. 19, shows the reversal of knitting from thestarting position, Fig. 1.5.

Of course, the transfer instrument 68 is adapted to guide the needle andto be centered by its own engagement with the needle. While it opens atits center line the gage of these machines is usually rather coarse sothere is little chance of the material becoming caught at the openingline. If desired, the same construction of instrument as first describedmay be substituted in these V-bed or other machines. When employing theinstrument of Figs. 10 and 11 in a flat machine, it is desirable to makethe end instruments right or left handed, as the case may require, sothat the pull of the fabric as it contracts will tend to close ratherthan open the points.

While one preferred. embodiment and a modification have been disclosed,it is to be understood that the inventive concept may be carried out ina number of ways. This invention is, therefore, not to be limited to theprecise details described, but is intended to embrace all variations andmodifications thereof falling within the spirit of the invention and thescope of the claims.

We claim:

1. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in eachbed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least onebed, gaid needles and instruments being retained for sliding movement insuperimposed relationship within slots and each instrument havingadjacent its loop engaging end a needle enclosing and guiding portionterminating in a shouldered, bifurcated, channel sectioned, loopspreading and retaining means within which a portion of its companionneedle is guided and through which a needle from the opposed bed may beprojected and a split opening at the side of said instrument and behindits point to permit its retraction and disengagement from the needle towhich loop transfer is made.

2. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in eachbed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least onebed, said needles and instruments being retained for sliding movement insuperimposed relationship within slots and each instrument havingadjacent its loop engaging end a channel sectioncd, needle restrainingand guiding portion pointed in form for entering a loop to betransferred, a shouldered, bifurcated loop spreading and retainingsection within which a portion of its companion needle is guided andthrough which a needle from the opposed bed may be projected and anopening at the side and behind the portion which constitutes the pointto permit retraction of the instrument and its disengagement from theneedle to which loop transfer is made.

3. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in eachbed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least onebed, said needles and instrumentsibeing retained for sliding movementwithin slots and each instrument 'having'a shank and butt, a shoulderedeye portion and a point, said shank and needle being of substantiallythe same thickness and being operable in superirnposedrelationship, saidshouldered eye portion being extended to encompass said needle andhaving at least one transverse member on which the instrument issupported and upon which the needle itself is borne.

4. In a knitting machine having angularly disposed beds, needles in eachbed and transfer instruments associated with needles of at least onebed, said needles and instruments being retained for sliding movementwithin slots and each instrument having a shank and butt, a shoulderedeye portion and a point, said shank and needle being of substantiallythe same thickness and being operablein superimposed relationship, saidshouldered eye portion being extended to encompass said needle andhaving at least one transverse member on which the instrument issupported and upon which the needle itself is borne, and a channelshaped point within which the needle is guided.

5. A loop transfer instrument for knitting machines comprising a shankterminating in an operating buttat one end and a bifurcated needleguiding portion terminating in a point for entering a loop to betransferred at its extreme other end, said bifurcated end of theinstrument having an offset needle guiding and supporting portion with alaterally disposed opening at one side and independent of the point forpermitting withdrawal of a needle towhich a loop held on the point maybe transferred.

6. A loop transfer instrument for knitting machines comprising a shankterminating in an operating butt at one end and a bifurcated needleguiding portion terminating in a point for entering a loop to betransferred at its other end, said last mentioned end of the instrumenthaving an enlarged, shouldered portion-forv spreadingthe loopto betransferred and a channel sectioned, .nee dle guiding point, and atleast one transverse .mernberon which a cooperating needlemay'besupported and. upon which the instrument itself is slidable. g

7.- A loop transfer instrument foru knitting. machines comprising ashank terminating in an operating butt. at one end and a bifurcatedneedle guiding portion termina t ing'in a point for entering-a loop tobe transferred at its other end, said last mentioned end of theinstrument having an enlarged, shouldered portionfor spreadingthe loopto be transferred and a channel sectioned, needle guiding point, and atleast one transverse-memberon which a cooperating needle may besupported-and upon which the instrument itself is slidable and alateralopening in said bifurcated portion of the instrument.

8. A point as defined in claim 7 wherein said bifurcated portion? isfurther provided with' loop. restraining lugs between said shoulders andthe point of the' instrument.

-References Cited in the file of this'patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,418,345 Witherell June 6, 1922 1,814,265 .Schabacker July 14, 19311,849,716 Ingalls Mar. 15,1932 2,004,584 .Philip June 11, 1935 2,092,701Ingalls Sept. 7,-1937 2,181,105 Sirmay .-Nov. 21, 1939 2,198,626 Lawsonet a1. Apr 30, 1940 2,326,694 Sirmay -Aug. 10, 1943 2,397,456 SirmayMar. 26, 1946 2,399,002 Coile Apr. .23, .1946

FOREIGN PATENTS 253,692 Great Britain 'June' 24, 1926

